HomeMy WebLinkAbout12142015 City Council Minutes City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes
December 14, 2015 Volume 39,Page 564
CALL TO ORDER
The December 14, 2015 regular meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at
7:00 p.m. by Mayor Jean Bardarson.
OPENING CEREMONY
Police Chief Tom Clemons led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
ROLL CALL
There were present:
Jean Bardarson presiding and
Marianna Keil Ristine Casagranda
Dave Squires Dale Butts
Sue McClure Deborah Altermatt
comprising a quorum of the Council; and
Ron Long, Assistant City Manager
Eric Wohlforth, City Attorney
Johanna Kinney, City Clerk
Brenda Ballou, Deputy City Clerk
Absent—None
CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR
PUBLIC HEARING
Tim McDonald wanted to give a quick update on the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association
(CIAA).Proposal 203 would affect Resurrection Bay sport fishing;both fresh and salt waters could
be closed to sport fishing if CIAA didn't get their cost recovery. This proposal would come up in
March 2016. Council requested, and McDonald agreed,to return on January 11, 2016 and provide
council with a presentation about Proposal 203.
Bob Linville urged council to follow through on having a resolution for a crane design to
keep the project moving forward.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA
Motion (Keil/Casagranda) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda
Butts moved 2015 City of Seward Third Quarter Taxable Sales Report from Informational Items to
Other New Business as a discussion item.
Motion Passed Unanimous
City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes
December 14, 2015 Volume 39,Page 565
The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items:
Cancel December 28,2015 City Council Meeting.
Resolution 2015-111,Authorizing A Contract Through December 31,2017,With All Alaska
News Unlimited, LLC For Display Advertising In The Seward Phoenix Log At A Rate Of
$240.00 Per Week.
Resolution 2015-112, Urging The Alaska Legislature And Governor To Fully Fund The
Municipal Harbor Facility Grant Program In The FY2017 State Capital Budget.
Resolution 2015-113, Adopting An Alternative Allocation Method For The FY2016 Shared
Fisheries Business Tax Program, And Certifying That This Allocation Method Fairly
Represents The Distribution Of Significant Effects Of Fisheries Business Activity In The Cook
Inlet Fisheries Management Area.
SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS
Proclamations & Awards
Recognition of Eric Wohlforth for city legal services.
City Manager's Report.Ron Long said the following purchase orders between$10,000 and
$50,000 had been approved by the City Manager since the last meeting: $13,318.00 to Wesco for a
500 KVA Transformer; $15,300 to Anixter for 15KV Wire; $39,938.95 to Vermeer for a
Chipper/Shredder for the Electric Department; and, $15,235 to Goodyear for six loader tires.
Request For Proposals (RFP) criteria for a grant funded Live Fire Training Facility:
Statement Of Qualifications 30
Litigation History 10
References 10
Proposal Amount/Price 50
TOTAL 100
Request For Proposals(RFP)criteria for updating the City of Seward Comprehensive Plan:
Understanding Of The Work 25
Approach, Methodology And Timeline 20
Examples Of Previous, Similar Or Related Work 15
Resumes Of Individuals Who Will Perform The Work 15
Proposal Amount/Price 25
TOTAL 100
Communication was received from the grant administrator from the Alaska Industrial
Development and Export Authority(AIDEA) and the Alaska Energy Authority(AEA) saying the
city's application for the Renewable Energy Fund, Round 9, titled Heat Pump System For City-
Owned Buildings passed the Stage 2 review;there would be two more stages left for the application
to pass through.
City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes
December 14, 2015 Volume 39,Page 566
Snow removal response has been slower as of late because two out of three of the city's
loaders are down for fuel system repairs.
In response to Squires, Long said he attended a meeting of the borough's Marijuana Task
Force last week and learned that the state's task force had concluded their work and sent it to the
Department of Law for review. Long anticipated that what council would have to address in the
future would be city code language defining time, place, and manner. Squires was hoping to
streamline zoning considerations by having work sessions with Planning&Zoning,as appropriate.
In response to Squires regarding the live fire training facility,Fire Chief Eddie Athey said
the timeframe for RFP responses was January 15, 2016. Athey added that, although a specific
delivery was not specified in the scoring criteria,the average timeline for a vendor to build this type
of trailer was three months.
In response to Casagranda, Long said the City Manager would return to the office on
December 28, 2015.
City Attorney's Report.Eric Wohlforth said for the period of November 7,2015 through
December 14, 2015 his firm had advised administration on the co-applicant agreement with the
Seward Community Health Center and had provided assistance redrafting the bond resolutions.
Other Reports,Announcements and Presentations
Seward Marine Terminal Expansion Plan Project Presentation.
AML Travel Report by Mayor and Council.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Resolution 2015-108,Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Lease Amendment No.2
Of Lease Agreement 97-106 With Richard Worabel And Linda Worabel For Lot 9,Block 6,
Seward Small Boat Harbor Subdivision,City Of Seward,Alaska According To Plat No.2000-
19 Seward Recording District Third Judicial District,State Of Alaska To Extend The Term Of
Their Lease By Thirteen Years,To Add Two Thirty-Three Years Options,And To Add Their
Daughter Jennifer Worabel To The Lease.
Motion (Casagranda/Squires) Approve Resolution 2015-108
Long said this was one of the boardwalk leases;the focus of the boardwalk leases in general
was to jumpstart businesses in the harbor area.This particular business had been successful,and now
the leaseholder was trying to establish a succession plan for the endeavor by including their daughter.
Harbormaster Norm Regis said the original lease would have expired in 2017,but had two
5-year extension options which would have brought it to 2027. The lease being considered tonight
would add an additional ten years and bring it to 2037.
City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes
December 14, 2015 Volume 39,Page 567
Long added that this was an amendment to the original lease and,as with any other lease,was
required to comply with the code,including: the duty to perform,the duty to have a going concern,
and to operate a business that was complimentary in nature to the surrounding businesses.
Notice of the public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public
hearing was opened.
Tim McDonald said,in general,he disagreed with what he perceived to be a recent trend for
council to approve long term leases. Although he didn't necessarily disagree with the additional
thirteen years,he did have a problem with including two 33-year extensions.He thought long term
leases were an entitlement and resulted in disenfranchising future generations. He was also
concerned that the city's real estate portfolio would be tied up for a long time to come. He did not
think this was the highest and best use of city resources.He wondered what the benefit of this lease
was to the citizens of Seward.
Richard Worabel said he was requesting this lease extension. He and his family had a
substantial investment in the building and in the community, and they intended to be around for a
long time to come.
No one else appeared to address the Council and the public hearing was closed.
In response to Squires, Long verified that the business was compliant with its sales and
property tax accounts,utilities and other city departments.
Motion Passed Unanimous
Resolution 2015-109,Recommending The 2016 Harbor Tariff Be Amended By Changing The
Waitlist Vessel Size For A-Float,Eliminating The 17 Foot Waitlist, Adding A 50 Ton Travelift
Water To Water Maintenance Lift,And Other Clarifications.
Motion (C asagranda/McClure) Approve Resolution 2015-109
Regis explained that since there were not many vessels in the 17 foot range,the harbor could
use this area of A Float as a transient location instead without any loss of revenue.
Notice of the public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public
hearing was opened. No one appeared to address the Council and the public hearing was closed.
In response to Altermatt,Regis said any vessel whose measurement in inches fell in the gap
would have its measurement either rounded up or rounded down. In response to Casagranda,Regis
confirmed that these proposed changes had all been vetted through the Port and Commerce Advisory
Board (PACAB).
Motion Passed Unanimous
City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes
December 14, 2015 Volume 39,Page 568
Resolution 2015-110,Rescinding Resolution 2015-087 And Authorizing The City Manager To
Enter Into A Special Contract With Icicle Seafoods, Inc. For Discounted Electric Rates For
Seward Fisheries.
Motion (Keil/Casagranda) Approve Resolution 2015-110
Long said the primary purpose of this resolution was the change the previous agreement from
five years to two years.
Utility Manager John Foutz confirmed this was essentially a two year contract with an
automatic renewal for two years.
Notice of the public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public
hearing was opened. No one appeared to address the Council and the public hearing was closed.
In response to Casagranda,Long confirmed that this resolution would not alter the projected
revenues in the budget.
Motion Passed Unanimous
UNFINISHED BUSINESS—None
NEW BUSINESS—None
Other New Business Items
Mayor appoint a member of the Council to receive the completed evaluation forms and
tabulate the results prior to the formal evaluation sessions for the City Manager,City Clerk,
and City Attorney. Council appointed Vice Mayor Keil to receive and tabulate evaluation forms.
Schedule a work session on Motor Pool capital outlay.Council scheduled a work session January
11, 2016 at 5:30 p.m.
Discuss 2015 City of Seward Third Quarter Taxable Sales Report.Butts anticipated a surplus of
approximately$400,000(through third quarter 2015)in year-end taxable sales report,and with that
surplus he proposed reinstating the merit and cost of living increases for city employees.Bardarson
was concerned that the city would have to be paying$700,000 for their share of a$2 million study to
be done on the Lowell Canyon Tunnel.Keil did not support this proposal and called for council to be
fiscally conservative. Squires,although he supported the proposal,was more concerned with the cuts
in the overtime budget.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS
City of Seward and Providence Seward Medical and Care Center Financial Reports for September,
2015.
City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes
December 14, 2015 Volume 39,Page 569
Port and Commerce Advisory Board Resolution 2015-003, Recommending To The City Council
Approval Of A Five Ton Crane Located On I-Dock And To Pursue Funding Sources To Complete
This Project.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Keil wished everyone Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays and said to please be safe during
the holidays.
Squires wanted Building Department to bring forward an update to the city's building code.
Currently the city was using the 2006 International Building Code(IBC),and the state was using the
2009 IBC, but the State Building Commissioner had informed Squires that the state planned on
adopting the 2015 IBC.If the city did not move to update even to the 2012 IBC,then they would be
several versions behind and this would have a negative impact on insurance rates. He commended
the road crews for clearing the roads so efficiently this morning,even with broken equipment and he
thanked John Foutz for a good presentation tonight. Squires wished everyone a Merry Christmas and
a Happy New Year.
McClure also thought the road crew had been doing a good job. She was pleased to see
Christmas lights up and thought the new LED lights were great. She was glad to see the RFP going
out for the Comprehensive Plan which the borough had $50,000 set aside for. McClure thanked
everyone for coming out to community choir event last week;there were five boxes of food collected
for the food pantry. She wished everyone Happy Holidays.
Casagranda wanted to see a resolution for the crane come forward. She said Happy Holidays
and Happy New Year.
Butts said Merry Christmas.He thanked the Public Works Department for work they did on
Thanksgiving Day to clear the waterfall. He encouraged everyone to shop local. Butts thanked
everyone for angel tree donations and all the volunteers who showed up to wrap the hundreds of gifts
donated. Deliveries would take place Wednesday in town and Thursday out of town.
Altermatt reminded Breakfast with Santa at Senior Center on December 19, 2015; tickets
must be purchased in advance. She wished everyone a Merry Christmas.
Bardarson gave Jim Hunt credit for the photograph on the packet cover. She thanked Eric
Wohlforth for his years of service to the city. Borough Mayor Mike Navarre was seeking a
representative from Seward to be on the Health Care Task Force. On behalf of some citizens, she
was thankful for the new lights downtown and the decorative holiday lights.She thanked the citizens
for being so friendly—she often received feedback from people that Seward was a friendly place.
Bardarson wished everyone a safe, happy holiday and Happy New Year.
Long thanked Eric Wohlforth for years of service to the city and his mentoring throughout
Alaska. He said Merry Christmas.
City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes
December 14, 2015 Volume 39,Page 570
CITIZEN COMMENTS
Norm Regis thanked council for supporting the Harbor Facility Grant Program;this program
not only helped the Seward harbor,but also helped support other communities' harbors.
Bob Linville thought there would have been discussion on funding the crane tonight.
Tim McDonald said he thought long term leases exposed the city to liability. He thought
lease terms should be standardized.
COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS
Casagranda asked when council could expect the crane resolution would come before
council and Long confirmed that administration would bring forward a resolution on the January 11,
2016 meeting.
Keil thanked the Parks &Recreation Department for clearing the bike paths.
Long said there was no standardization for leases because there was not a"one-size-fits-all"
answer.
Bardarson thanked Iris Darling for providing chocolates from Sweet Darlings,and the Teen
&Youth Center for sending over a platter of cookies.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:07 p.m.
Jo anna Ki MC Jan Bardarson
C Clerk Mayor
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